At the beginning of 2014, Budapest’s most popular, iconic Irish pub tragically closed, mourned by its many regulars. Back then, the owners promised to soon find a new venue and vowed to reopen Becketts. But for a year, nothing happened, and memories of the Guinness slowly started to fade. However, now it seems that the four-leaf clover has brought us some luck: on Friday, February 6, Becketts reopens at Liszt Ferenc Square. The best part? Almost nothing has changed.
Budapest’s most popular Irish pub, Becketts, first opened in 1994 and for 20 years, it was an important gathering place for local expats, tourists, sports fans and lovers of Guinness.
The place was forced to shut down under unclear circumstances at the beginning of last year, but the owners promised to find a new place and the means to reopen. After one year, this promise has become a reality, with the legendary pub finally reopening at Liszt Ferenc Square.
What is perhaps even better news is that Becketts will not be renewed or changed from the original concept. They took the old venues' décor and souvenirs, and simply moved them to the new venue (which was previously the location of Circus). The layout, of course has changed, because the new building is set differently.
Guests can now sit on 3 floors, but naturally, all of these have big-screen TVs and that typical Irish atmosphere.
The drinks menu has not particularly changed, either: Guinness is still 1200 Ft per half litre, the Jack Daniels’ is 900 Ft, and they still offer draft cider (Strongbow - 600 Ft, Magners - 1450 Ft). There is only a small change regarding the food selection: in addition to the usual British dishes, we can also eat Tandoori chicken wings. They also tampered a bit with the logo, but the essence is still the same.
Why this is good news, you ask? Because Becketts is the Szimpla Kert of Budapest’s Irish pubs, whose cultural significance can measure up to ruin pubs’ fame. Many considered this pub their second home, and many friendships, marriages and businesses were born (or ruined) next to a pint of beer here. And let's not forget that it is a Budapest institution that has provided refuge to a huge number of expats in a foreign environment. We are definitely glad that Becketts’ has returned and that their story continues.
The opening is on February 6 (so we can watch the Six Nations Rugby Championship here), and there will be a grand opening party on February 13 and 14 where the DJs from Becketts and Irish Cat, and the Inka-hu U2 tribute band will be providing the music.
